HIGHLANDERS’ PATRONS ARE A THREAT TO TEAM

Sir,
 
We all know that there is no permanent situation in life but the change of fortune at Mbabane Highlanders is unbearable. This legendary team is crumbling and it is heart-piercing to the loyal supporters. I attribute this set back to the incompetent body of the team’s patrons. This outdated and retrogressive structure does not benefit the club. It is only there to cause confusion, disorder and unworkable conditions; hence the team has been struggling for the past 16 years.

I feel it was a mistake from the onset to give this body more authority yet they do not contribute anything financially to the team. Under the leadership of this incompetent body, the team has failed to rekindle its glory days. In 2013, the team suffered the worst embarrassment in its history. It was relegated to the National First Division, something that shocked the local football fraternity.

We had all anticipated in vain that the patrons would save the team but they watched helplessly for a miracle to happen. Subsequently, when Bheki ‘Rubber’ Simelane took over as a sole director, the team was drowning in a pool of huge debts.

The team is back again in the relegation battle and the very same patrons are failing to find a solution again. Consequently, the future of the team looks bleak and I want to believe these people are enjoying the status quo because it gives them the freedom to call the shots at the expense of the team.

I think it is about time to call an urgent mass meeting for the supporters to decide the future of this great club. The working environment in the team is no longer conducive, it does not give an investor absolute power to run the team yet he is the one footing the bill. Business icon Mpheni Dlomo, a person who was eager to help the team become professional could not survive a day under this outdated structure, and it was during his era that the team last dominated local football. I think the patrons should do the team a great favour by retiring from football politics. The supporters urgently need to adopt a structure that will make the working environment conducive for the betterment of the team.

Mfan’fikile Fakudze

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